Search results for:

I noticed that Gusset do a nice rigid mtb fork that would suit this bike perfectly, on sale at £62 at the moment. I had a 1hr plus ride on the bike today and felt the suspension was okay but fairly useless in a city environment. We have plenty of countryside around here (Cambridge), but even that is fairly flat.

Pretty neat! I would consider using a normal chain with just a single half link though, it'll stretch much less and you won't have any surprises while mashing hard. It looks pretty loose as is already.

Also, if you're only using it for street duty, some skinny slicks like the Conti Contact Sports are wonderful, fast but still have enough volume to deal with curbs.

I might get a tensioner instead of changing the chain again.

Pretty neat! I would consider using a normal chain with just a single half link though, it'll stretch much less and you won't have any surprises while mashing hard. It looks pretty loose as is already.

Also, if you're only using it for street duty, some skinny slicks like the Conti Contact Sports are wonderful, fast but still have enough volume to deal with curbs.

Cheers. I'm not decided on tyres yet, i'd still like a bit of grip for damp days.

I haven't decided what toe clips/straps i want yet. Something that blends in with the colour scheme i have already. Yes, there is a scheme at work here!

Scott mtb Single Speed. Coming along nicely.

The commuter in fixed mode. Got some filing to do to get the shimanos back on .

Lovely job, and to echo a previous comment, nice workshop.

If you're going to ride brakeless, you need some foot retention, or risk becoming very swiftly acquainted with the back of the nearest Transit van.

Yeah, that's why i'm going to work on getting the shimanos on before using the bike properly. According to the local bike shop chap there is a trend for fixies with front and rear brakes at the moment. Safety first i guess.

Oh, and different tires too.

My 12 year old mtb needed a facelift after several years languishing in the shed. So i decided, as i was in a bike tinkering mood, to give it a single speed conversion.

Above is how it looked after i had stripped off the gear mech and derrailier (spelling?). A strangely satisfying experience, especially snipping the wires.
I cut off the old grips as they were worn out, and it made getting the shifters off easier.

With this toolkit, a shimano specific one according to the ad when i got it, i was able to remove the cassette and front chainrings. This left the bike looking clean and ready for a re-fit. I also removed the rusty old pedals. This bike did have SPDs for a while until i got sick of falling off on steep hills.

I did some research into single speed cogs and front chainrings, deciding that what i needed was a 104bcd 4 arm chainring with about 40T and a rear cog with 16T with spacers. I went for the Gusset Tribal R chainring up front and a Gusset 1er cog on the rear with a set of Halo spacers. The chain was originally for my commuter but wasn't quite long enough for that and seemed to suit the chunky mtb better. I used a Gusset 1/2 link 1/8" slinky chain.

I'm really happy with the look of the new components on the bike. As Gusset seemed to do well out of my conversion i thought it only right to get a sheet of stickers to give the frame a little character. You can also see i have put chrome bars on, i put the Scott bars on my commuter, and the grips that i got when i bought my commuter originally.

It took a fair bit of fiddling with the spacers but in the end i got a perfect chain line, which i am pretty chuffed with. When i gave the bike a test run it was really smooth, the 40/16 ratio is just right for cruising around and hopping up and down curbs.

This angle makes the chain look a little loose, but it isn't really. The pedals are Diamondback platforms. Glad i went for them and not the green plastic Wellgo ones next to them in the shop.

Next stage is to get rigid front forks, a more comfy seat, different grips, the brakes work well so no need to change unless for cosmetic reasons. I'm happy with it so far.

Here is the commuter in Fixie mode, with a pretty small front chainring i admit, but i'm having to work with a short chain and very little room in the dropouts. Gave it a spin, carefully, and it seems okay. But i'm a bit of a wuss without brakes.

A pretty good chainline though, i think.

I tried the Shimano SLR brakes again with the new wheel, but no joy. I have realised if i want to use them then some filing of the brake callipers and the bolt hole in the front fork would be needed.

Yep. I see what you mean. I may do that at some stage, as well as trying drops for a bit.

I mean you should get a quill stem.

Doh, sorry. My bad. Why do you recommend a quill?

I've got some of those deep drop alhonga brakes, fitted but not used if you want those for like £19, or some longish (about 57mm) miche ones for about £16 (unused)... I have bought so much stuff and not used it, so stupid

Cheers, hang on to 'em please. Could you measure the bolt length on the front ones. Then i'll be able to see if they will fit through the front fork bolt holes on my frame. That was the other issue with the SLRs i bought.

Although comparing the pic with my one, maybe mine isn't exactly the same model. But pretty similar anyway.

Cheers, no the stem is an Amoeba Borla Stem (see pic). came with the bike when i bought it. Its pretty good, has a 40 degree angle and with the Scott Bars gives a comfortable riding position.

http://www.discountbicycles.co.uk/biz/product.php/4442/4140/amoeba_borla_40deg_comfort_stem_for_a_head

However, the clearance on the undrilled forks I have is so tight that I think the bolt at the back of the brake caliper would foul on the tyre if I did get the forks drilled.

would you ever use clamp on brake calipers? I ask because i saw some online in my search for ideal brakes to fit my frame/wheel combo.

I bought this one a few years ago, thinking it would just about do the job, but have been very pleased with it. I actually wouldn't want to exchange it with a more expensive one if someone offered it to me, very good value, very sturdy

BikeTool Aluminium Workstand

That's a good suggestion, defo along the lines of what i was thinking, any other suggestions around this price/quality?

http://www.bikebuddy.co.uk/shop.asp

Cool, would look even better with a 1970's era tartan Thermos flask strapped to the frame.

I seem to be in a bike tinkering frenzy of late, and i need a work stand pretty soon. Too many slips and injuries while trying to hold a bike still. Anyone have some recommendations for a decent, fairly compact (ie foldable) stand that won't cost too many coins?

To be honest, as i have an impending car purchase soon, 100 beans is the max i can afford.

^Exists, but doesn't look retro
http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/fuel-bottle-cage-for-use-with-sigg-bottles-prod11261/?src=froogle

I'd wondered about debadging & Duffing up Sigg Fuel bottles

and crafting corks.

In the end I plumped for a NOS REG Isolated Bottle (£10 from Dave Marsh)
Unfortunately it's only 0.25l so I'll have to take a hipflask in my back pocket, but it'll keep the squash nice and cool and most importantly it looks the part!

My Sigg, which i use mainly for climbing/hiking etc has its own thermal jacket which would be great to use when out on a long ride, if i had a cage for it. Otherwise it gets stashed in the backpack.
Has anyone ever made a cage for a thermos flask? That would look amusing.

I wonder if i could make a holder for my trusty Sigg water bottle? Maybe there already is such a thing.

Here's an option when brakes won't fit with a bolt.

Bike ambulance have super deep drop calipers by acor, or the slightly less deep dia comp ones pictured above, either are £25

Yep, one of the two shops i was planning to visit.

Spotted this beast today:

Pretty poxy lock for what , i'm guessing, must be a rather pricey bike.

^ Had to google "pogies". Have you seen the new Surly Moloko bars?

I like the extra crossbar for fitting lights & stuff. Steel though, so no good for a weight weenie like you* ;-)

• Longbike excepted.
  
  

An extra bar for lights is cool, i remember a fad back at school for mounting as many lights as possible on the front bars. Like a bike version of a Vespa/Lambretta.